Fall Burning

FTLComm - Carrot River - September 24, 1999

Each year many farmers choose to clear their fields of slow biodegrading material (flax and Canola) following harvest. In some parts of Canada the practice has created serious disaffection between the agricultural and non-agricultural community. In the area North East of Winnipeg schools have to close because roads become impassible because of agricultural smoke. This picture was taken Thursday morning just West of the provincial forest about half an hours drive East of Carrot River. Farmers in this area had their crops in very early and have now finished the year's harvest and so the burning has begun. This patch of smoke extended for over ten minutes and was both field burning and also contained the smell of burning wood. The source of most of this smoke was a bush that it appeared as though the agricultural burning got out of control and burned down the patch of trees.

Fortunately the smoke cleared and this is what the morning country side looked like as the trees in this area are a riot of colour. The fire that had produced the smoke in the morning was still active after nine that night when I drove through the same area. Though we can understand the reason for such fires it seems such a waste that fibres that are so persistent can not be used in some other way then as air polutents.